Rory McIlroy Rejects LIV Golf, Stays True to Golf Tradition
Rory McIlroy firmly declines any association with the LIV Golf series, citing his deep respect for golf’s heritage and past champions. Despite openness to tour mergers, McIlroy remains loyal to traditional golf values and pathways.
In a BBC Golf report, Rory McIlroy has firmly ruled out a switch to the breakaway LIV Golf series, stating that he is “too much of a traditionalist” to ever join the Saudi-backed tour. The four-time major champion has been a vocal critic of LIV Golf since its launch in 2021, but had recently softened his stance, acknowledging that he may have been too harsh on those who opted to defect.
However, McIlroy has now put an end to any speculation, making it clear that the lure of LIV Golf holds no appeal for him. The Northern Irishman emphasized his deep-rooted connection to the game’s storied history, taking pride in the legacy of past champions whose names adorn the trophies he aspires to win.
“It’s not for me,” McIlroy told ESPN. “I’m too much of a traditionalist. I’m steeped in the… I love winning golf tournaments and looking at the trophy and seeing Sam Snead won this trophy, or Ben Hogan or Gene Sarazen or Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods or Nick Faldo – whoever it is – the people that came before me. That, to me, is a big deal in our game.”
While open to the possibility of a merger that would bring the PGA Tour and LIV Golf together, McIlroy remains firmly committed to the established pathways and traditions that have defined the sport he loves.
The news comes as fellow PGA Tour player Webb Simpson voiced his belief that a deal between the two tours is necessary “for the good of the game.” Simpson, the 2012 US Open champion, acknowledged the division that has plagued the sport, arguing that the game “misses the personalities of LIV and the PGA Tour playing together.”
Both McIlroy and Simpson finished the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at one over par, seven shots behind leader Shane Lowry.
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